Artist Profile: Michelle Capizzi
Artist Profile: Michelle Capizzi
Artist, Old Soul and Alley Kat Obsessed with Color; Always Dreaming in Shapes
Above: Sugar Sugar & Honey Honey. Photos / Michelle Capizzi Art
One never knows what surprising and colorful individuals live quietly in our beloved surrounding hills and forests. Truthfully, our region, and the beauty, peace, and perhaps anonymity it offers, has been blessed to open its borders to some very remarkable people.
Every person has a story. Some arrive and immediately bubble to the surface in an unmistakable flamboyance that we are all drawn to. Our beloved Bobby McCarthy was one such individual. For those of you who knew him, you know what I mean. Darlene Allen is usually front and center, either participating in local fun events or creating her own horse races to gather her friends for fun and frolic, yet can also be counted upon for serious business. Thanks to this wonderful opportunity of writing for my readers, I am blessed with the opportunity to learn about people and share their stories. Today, I invite you to meet Great Valley and Buffalo resident, artist Michelle Capizzi.
Michelle has a BA in Fine Arts with concentration in Graphic Design from SUNY Fredonia, and has spent most of her married years as wife and mom of three now grown and flown young men. Michelle was one of those moms who baked cupcakes, cheered at sports events, and volunteered for any occasion in schools or their community. Michelle also served as Art Director for Millard Fillmore Hospital. She says she was very fortunate to volunteer 18 years for Albright Knox Art Gallery when it was still called that (now known as Buffalo AKG Art Museum, scheduled to reopen this week). She focused on family first but still found time to be on the Board of CEPA Gallery, a contemporary photography and visual arts center in Buffalo. She loved surrounding herself with art and learned a lot in the process.
One day, as her children were leaping from the nest, she listened to and internalized her own words as she suggested to her sons that they follow their hearts and their dreams. She thought back to the many years she suppressed her love of painting by stashing it out of the way after she completed a work. Most friends did not even know of her passion or her talent.
Then COVID hit and Michelle found herself going to her family holiday home in Great Valley for renewal. The metamorphosis began. She kicked off her city shoes and found she loved being barefoot, which is how I found her when we met, wearing cut-off shorts splattered with paint and a great big, contented smile on her face.
Now, to be honest, I have not been a fan of abstract art. Perhaps I just don’t understand it, but I am rarely drawn to it in a gallery or elsewhere. But there, things changed. After I climbed the stairs to Michelle’s second floor gallery (which gives her a tree-top view of the nature surrounding her, plus great light) I was suddenly immersed in nothing but! It was everywhere! On the floors, on the walls, everywhere I turned. It was all waiting for her to gather it up (with the help of Suzie Ditcher) for an installation opening the 22nd called ‘Anything Can Happen’ at Serendipity Labs at Seneca One Tower where she will be Artist in Residence for the duration.
Here’s how she describes the display of 17 works titled “Anything Can Happen”: “The positivity that happens when we dream and embrace the goodness that surrounds us. There is an abundance of goodness in our everyday lives that help us find joy. When we find those happy moments, we can discover our passion and that is when anything can happen.”
Upon seeing this riot of mostly soft color at every turn, I asked… why this style? Her response: “For conversation; for getting lost in the beauty of the colors and the happiness of the shapes. I’ve been told my art has the unique ability to change the energy in a room. I often hear from clients that they love the conversations each piece inspires. Through my original paintings, you will discover energy packed with emotion. Art can boost your mood and induce reflection.”
Acrylic is her main medium, but she usually combines mixed media in all paintings, using her hands and unexpected tools as she layers her medium to create texture and detail. Also, she devised a way to paint on burlap! Words cannot convey what Michelle’s art can. She does commission work, so if you find you like her style, contact her for some exploring for your own personalized piece or buy one you like at the exhibit in Buffalo.
You can go online and find her work at michellecapizzi.com, on her Instagram page (@michelle_capizzi) or listen to her podcast interview at https://andrealiebross.com/bonus-podcast-2-why-now-is-the-time-to-invest-in-yourself-with-michelle-capizzi/. If you want to meet Michelle in person, look for the Alley Katz when they are out and about town doing their beautification work. Yep, she’s also a Kat! Ask her about the painting she created and auctioned off and you will discover her beautiful soul.
PS: A portion of the sales from Michelle’s ‘Anything Can Happen’ Series while in residence at Serendipity Labs at Seneca One Tower will be donated to the Great Valley Food Panty, Great Valley, NY and EPIC, Every Person Influences Children, Buffalo NY.